The association of olfactory information with a resource is broadly known as
olfactory-based associative learning. From an ecological perspective, associative
learning can reduce search time for resources and fine tune responses to changing biotic
and abiotic factors in a variable environment, which in mosquitoes has implications for
pathogen transmission and vector control strategies. The purpose of this dissertation was
to examine the ability for olfactory-based associative learning across the major life
history domains of mosquitoes.
Six different experiments comprise this dissertation. The first was to evaluate the
response of mosquitoes following conditioning to 5, 10 or 50% sucrose concentrations
with individual level mosquito conditioning and testing and introduction of statistical
analysis with binary logistic regression. Mosquitoes did not respond in a dose dependent
manner with respect to positive response to target odors following conditioning. This
effect appears to be related to the mosquitoes' prior exposure to sugar as those exposed
to 10% sucrose before conditioning did not prefer 50% sucrose but significantly fewer chose 5% sucrose. In an evaluation of host associated odors and second blood meal
choice by females using a dual-choice olfactometer no significant effects were observed.
The lack of significance may have been due to insufficient sample sizes, problems with
odor collection or physiological state of mosquitoes. Effects of predatory mosquitofish
on larval development and female oviposition choice were evaluated by rearing in
separated habitats under three different treatments followed by an oviposition choice
assay. Females did not prefer their natal habitat or avoid predators but chose substrate
that had contained mosquitofish fed conspecific larvae. Mosquitofish affected larval
development with acceleration in treatments with mosquitofish fed TetraminĀ® and
delayed pupation in treatments with mosquitofish fed conspecific larvae. Mosquito
memory length was evaluated by conditioning and testing at six time intervals from
colony and field populations at two ages. Younger mosquitoes showed higher levels of
positive response after conditioning at all time intervals except the longest (24h). Finally
the olfactory-based associative learning ability of Anopheles cracens was evaluated.
Significant evidence for learning was observed in males but not females at a memory
length interval of 24h.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:tamu.edu/oai:repository.tamu.edu:1969.1/ETD-TAMU-2010-05-7912 |
| Date | 2010 May 1900 |
| Creators | Sanford, Michelle ReneĢe |
| Contributors | Tomberlin, Jeffery K. |
| Source Sets | Texas A and M University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
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